Mind-Body Awakening in the Mediterranean with the Sha Method

Perched atop a cliff on the outskirts of Villa de Altea, in Spain, the Sha WellnessClinic
is a secluded hideaway—the kind where one imagines stars in dark
sunglasses checking in for weeks at a time to recoup. That does happen,
but it’s not the typical “wellness” clinic with a laissez-faire approach
to results or a completely stark and minimalistic aesthetic. Instead,
Sha is a lifestyle method that’s focused on super-efficient, targeted
treatments—often tapping into genetic science and next-generation
techniques not found in the U.S.—combined with chic, Mediterranean
elegance. Here, you can have your total-body detox … and actually enjoy
it.

Opened three years ago and expanded this past March, Sha is the forward-thinking concept of Alfredo Bataller (Parietti), an Argentinean-born businessman who battled chronic illness for years. After rounds of ineffective treatments, he met a naturopathic doctor who virtually cured him of his ailments within weeks. Astonished, Bataller delved further into the healing powers of natural remedies and macrobiotic living, eventually meeting with Michio Kushi, an adviser to the World Health Organization. Over lunch, Kushi told Bataller he should open up a clinic devoted to ancient, Eastern practices fused with modern Western medicine, and build it in the exact spot where they were sitting—Bataller’s holiday home in the Sierra Helada mountains. And that’s exactly what he did.

Relax on the pool deck surrounded by breathtaking views of Spain.

Kushi is now one of 15 international medical experts who serve on Sha’s advisory board and oversee its cutting-edge treatments, most of which aim to increase one’s lifespan by checking off health goals, such as detox, weight loss, and overcoming chronic fatigue. It’s a highly customized approach—guests actually have their blood drawn and analyzed upon arrival, before meeting with a series of gurus who tailor a program based on each guest’s objectives. So what’s on the itinerary? The more futuristic options include a form of genetic testing that profiles more than 51 genes, to uncover any illness one might be predisposed to (it’s supposedly the most personalized in existence); then there’s the nocturnal sleep exam, which uses a polygraph to detect variables in REM cycles; a laser session that helps cure smoking addiction; and even telomere-length analysis, which tracks the longevity of cells in order to fend off aging. It’s like being given a map to the Fountain of Youth.

Practice yoga among the peaceful Spanish cliffs.

Still, those who prefer less space-age programs can zero in on holistic therapies, such as cupping and colonics, to stimulate cellular detoxification; acupuncture and moxibustion, to balance chi energy; salt baths, to ease weary muscles; yoga for yogis of any level; and a water circuit that’s salute per aqua (health through water) to the max, comprising Roman and Turkish baths, biothermal showers, and foot tubs. And cosmetic improvements aren’t shunned—looking well-rested is the point—so there are fractional lasers, skin-tightening ultrasounds, and facial-mesotherapy injections of biorevitalizing vitamins, amino acids, and Q-enzymes.

The setting itself is a sleek, but not stark, atmosphere designed by Uruguayan architect Carlos Gilardi, featuring 93 suites and a macrobiotic restaurant—where eating isn’t a two-peas-on-your-plate lesson in deprivation. Master chef Pablo Montoro, formerly of El Bulli, prepares meals that blow one’s gastronomic mind (think crispy cod confit served with hot potato foam, vanilla oil, and wild mushrooms). For extra opulence, we hear that it’s worth an upgrade to the Presidential Suite, a three-bedroom penthouse with a solarium that’s the Bataller family residence (when it’s booked, they simply pack up and go on holiday). Situated 80 minutes by car from Valencia International Airport, Sha takes care of all transfers and has a private heliport for direct touchdowns. While visits typically last from 4 to 14 days, it’s tempting to relax for longer. In fact, one guest came for an extended weekend and ending up staying for three months. Sounds like leaving is the hardest part of the Sha journey.